POLITICAL NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 26 September 1908, Page 3

POLITICAL NOTES.

— (From Our Special Correspondent.) j

A. CHAMPION OF LABOUR.

MB SPEAKER ON THE FLOOR. | . . , , . ■ j

/■."■",.. WELLINGTON, Friday. An ; interesting feature of the Committee's proceedings on the Arbitration Bill- was the activity ef the Hon. "S£t' Guinness. When the House is in Committee Mr Speaker becomes a private, member, and Mr Guinness has during the . last few 'days taken full advantage. of this position .of greater and less responsibiUty on- Ms' f eet "to move or support amendments "in the interests of the •workers;: being- generally in agreement with: Mr Barclay, and speaking and voting against the Minister for Labour on the great majority of occasions; in fact, it would hardly be too much to say that Mr Guinness was for- the -time-being an independent ; labour member! '[ Another West Coast representative -(Mr- Coiyin) although a Government Whip, pretty much tilie <eame 'line; but Mr Tom Seddon '?;jwlo"ptedori : the whole a middle course. ; ■ -:o Mr Guinnes9' efforts to improve the ABUT from" the workers' point of view ' had ■«£■' interesting conclusion. The Minister Bad just said, "I move that this'-'bilT be now reported as amended,'? 'when, the member for Grey was seen to be on his feet. He stated that . te had risen before the Minister to - : move a new clause, and that this must lake precedence of Mr Millar's motion. ■ • -i: The Minister took the <opposito ■".:- viewV and there followed a discussion C on -the point of order. One member : BUggested, amidst laughter, that proeress: should be reported in order to take the ruling of, the Speaker. Finally, Mr Millar gave way, and Mr .Guinness moved his new clause, which was to provide that all proceedings arising out of an industrial dispute should be taken in the dis-trict-where the dispute arose. After this had been dismissed, opposed by the Minister, and 'thrown out, the Bill was reported. A little later, when the Mining Act Amendment Bill was in Committee, Mr Guinness read a resolution of the Eeefton Miners Union, asking for fortnightly payment of wages instead or monthly. ' Mr Massey and the Minister urged, that the men could demand weekly payment of wages under section three of the Wages Protection Act; but Mr A Guinness said the Eeefton miners did not wish to be compelled to enforce the law against their employers and would be content to be paid fort- - nitrhtly. Hia amendment to make fortnightly payment of mine "' jages — v^c^ out of order. - ■ •